Sidekicks #1 “Robin”

Today we are talking sidekicks. For years Robin has been in Batman's shadow, but he is more then just that. There has been more then just one to wear the Robin costume and some of them have moved on to wear another costume. I think that Dick Grayson was the best, and I think he was done wrong, he should of been the one to fill in for Batman when Batman's back was broke. That is just something that has bugged me for years. So let's hear about what you like and/or dislike about Robin, and which Robin you like the best. Tell us about which costume you like and/or dislike the most. Give us your opinion on the direction that the Robins took after leaving Batman's shadow.

Robin:Bright yellow cape, green draws,bright red threads.. insignia?…simple yellow R??That my friend sets up a load of jokes.No respect.not even a “Robins” bold colors!And the only thing close to a wing is the Feather part in his hair!!I just think as far as the classic costume goes,there just wasn’t much thought to make it as cool as it could have been.Thank goodness for modern day make-overs .Better late than never.

For me, Tim will always be “My” Robin. He figured out Batman’s true identity for starters and brought him back from the edge after Jason’s Death. Not only is he a great fighter, but he’s got Batman’s analytic mind and the same will to win.

Not that I’m saying Dick doesn’t have this, but Tim vs Lady Shiva? So cool!

Retrospectively, I’m not a huge fan of Dick as Robin. As far as I’m concerned, the best thing to happen to Greyson was becoming Nightwing. This was when he managed to step out of the Bat’s shadow (well mostly, it’s a pretty damn big shadow) and become his own superhero…

As Robin, I never really like Dick Grayson all that much. He’s much better as Nightwing and has become a great hero in his own right, rather than just Batman’s sidekick. But I’ve gotta give the character credit for being the original behind a secret identity that lasted as long as Robin has.

Jason Todd was more interesting. His darker edge seemed more in line with Batman. He was still pretty annoying though. As Red Hood he’s become even more annoying in my opinion but he’s kind of a likable annoying if you know what I mean. Plus you can’t deny the impact that his “death” had on Batman for decades.

For me, Tim Drake is by far the best Robin. Mostly because he was the Robin I grew up with and was my first exposure to the character. Plus he seems to have been the first one of all the Robins to have a semi-decent costume. I’m not sure what to make of his “Red Robin” identity. It doesn’t seem all that removed from Robin.

I know a lot of people refuse to acknowledge Stephanie Brown as Robin but the fact is, she WAS Robin for a time. And she was the first female Robin so that’s gotta be worth something. Sure, she was kinda lame and rather forgettable but that’s beside the point. I’m not even gonna comment on her as Batgirl because she replaced Cassandra Cain who was in my opinion the best Batgirl. Yeah I said it. She’s even better than Barbara Gordon. And I’m not entirely sure what she’s up to these days.

Damian Wayne runs (ran) a close second to Tim Drake as my favourite Robin. A lot of people find him annoying and full of himself but frankly that’s what I like about him.

….I think this may have been the longest comment I even posted here. I’ll shut up now.

Anarchangel:
. I’m not even gonna comment on her as Batgirl because she replaced Cassandra Cain who was in my opinion the best Batgirl. Yeah I said it. She’s even better than Barbara Gordon. And I’m not entirely sure what she’s up to these days.

Cassandra took on the Mantle of the Black Bat as a member of Batman inc operating out of Hong Kong

The thing I always found strange about Robin was that Batman had a definitive sidekick but Superman never really did. Considering that Batman is meant to be a dark, moody hero, having him hang around with a young boy in green shorts seemed odd to me. Mind you, I was never a huge fan of sidekicks, even as a kid (which is when sidekicks are meant to appeal). Also Dick Greyson’s costume sucked majorly as Robin. What really interests me is how DC managed to keep so many sidekicks going, even after it became not so fashionable for older heroes to hang around with young children. They’re still at it (see Damien Wayne (before the recent Batman events obviously) or the Aqualad who appeared in Brightest Day).

No, I agree with Anarchangel, in my opinion, Cassie is the best Batgirl. To me, Barbra IS Oracle, who’s a fantastic character in her own right.

This is similar to the problem I have with Renee Montoya as The Question. I really liked Vic, and I think Renee was a solid enough character as she was that she didn’t NEED to “evolve” into The Question, which I think made her lose some of what made her interesting….

i always hated sidekicks. how can batman justify bringing this kid to get shot at? the costume is terrible. and batman is supposed to be this grim avenger of the night. this loner. yet hes got more kids hanging around than charles xavier.

i always liked Dick Grayson, but i agree, he’s better as Nightwing.
Tim Drake had the best Robin costume, and i think was the best take on Robin, though if his idea of graduating from sidekick to hero is Red Robin, he’s got a little to learn.

As far as kid sidekicks? Not such a great idea. Batman can’t have a girlfriend because she’d be targeted by villains, but he can adopt a kid AND take him into battle? Hmmm. i guess that’s were Tim gets a little off track, the point of him was to prove Batman “needs” a Robin, despite Jason making the risks pretty clear.

Then again, i like to assume fictional universes don’t work the same way ours does.

There was an Episode of Young Justice that makes the side kick issue interesting. I forget the exact dialog but The JLA had just learned that Captain Marvel was really a Kid and were voting on weather to keep him on the team sighting that no one knew he was really a child to which Batman said ” I did.” Wonder Woman then got into it with him over that and made a comment about Robin saying something like, you are trying to make him into you. Batman replied to that No I am trying to make sure he doesn’t become like me.

So I think Batman takes on his side kicks that have had similar tragic events to both make sure they have the skills needed to survive their choosen path of crime fighting as well as to try and keep them from being eaten the same way by the obsession to the point where Batman is the true persona and Bruce Wayne is the mask.

In my opinion there are a number of reasons for why Robin was added to the cast of Batman and why he has continued to be at Bruce Wayne’s side for decades.

First, he seems to have been created simply so the young readers of Batman back in the day had someone to relate to. Someone they could see themselves in during Batman’s adventures.

Secondly, most of the Robin’s tend to be ‘at risk’ children anyway. The logic behind Bruce Wayne adopting them seems to have been that he thinks he can provide a stabilizing influence to stop them going off the rails. Jason Todd being a prime example of this. But frankly this always seemed kind of stupid to me.

Third, (and maybe on a subconscious level) Batman keeps Robin around to prevent HIMSELF going off the rails. The cheery disposition of Robin was always in stark contrast to Batman’s gloom. There always seemed a risk that Batman would be pushed too far and cross that line into bad guy territory. Just look at the recent Batman & Robin #19. Without spoiling the story for anyone, a lot has happened to Batman recently and it seems, in this issue at least, that he’s making a really bad call. One that may well push him over the edge. It’s only Tim Drake returning that manages to stop him making a serious mistake.

Anyway, another lecture over. We all have different opinions on this subject and that’s just mine. 🙂

barbario:
i always hated sidekicks. how can batman justify bringing this kid to get shot at? the costume is terrible. and batman is supposed to be this grim avenger of the night. this loner. yet hes got more kids hanging around than charles xavier.

Oh wow, somebody making fun of the fact that a grown man is running around with a kid. Haven’t seen that one before…

From what I’ve read, the original Bob Kane Batman included red long-johns and a domino mask, and was to be named Birdman. He wisely sought out a REAL artist, Bill Finger, who is the REAL creator of Batman, but Kane’s original design may have been the basis for Robin’s look. See for yourself: